Question
My baby was born three days ago, but he was yellow all over when he was born, which scared my wife so much that she couldn’t sleep. The doctor said this is neonatal jaundice, and my baby’s bilirubin level is much higher than the normal range. What is the normal range of jaundice in newborns?
Answer
Typically, a baby starts to show jaundice from the 4th to the 5th day after birth, meaning that on the 3rd day, their bilirubin level should be below the normal range of 5. Therefore, if the jaundice appears too early, it may lead to hemolytic jaundice with a relatively high bilirubin level, which can easily cause bilirubin encephalopathy. It is important to identify the cause promptly. If hemolysis is present, blood exchange treatment may be necessary, and if the levels are not particularly high, blue light therapy can be used!